Shoe stretcher



J. DUDENHOFEN Sept. 3, 1.929.

' SHOE STRETCHER Filed July 16, 1927 ZSheets-Sheet l A TTORNE Y.

Sept. 3, 1929. J. DUDENHOFEN 1,726,733

SHOE STRETCHER Filed July 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY J flu Janka ell Q Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

uNiTEn STATES v 1,726,733 PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB DUDENI-IOFEN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO SIDNEY J'ALENAK AND AUGUST A. SOHAEFER, BOTH OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SHOE STRETCHER.

Application filed July 16,

This invention relates to boot and shoe stretchers, and particularly to boot and shoe stretchers wherein there is a foot portion and a heel portion adapted to be forced away from or toward each other by means of a screw or like device.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a construction of this character which is so constructed that larger or smaller foot pieces can be interchanged and thus provide for stretching any size shoe.

A further object is to provide a construction of this character having foot pieces which are readily removable from engagement with the body of the device so as to permit the interchange previously referred to, and in which the foot pieces are formed of two sections adapted to be expanded or contracted by a screw to thus expand or contract the foot portion of the shoe.

Other objects have to do with the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will appear more fully hereinafter.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a shoe stretcher constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure a is a longitudinal vertical section of the shoe form detached from the operating mechanism;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the body 10 and of the shoe form;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the body 10;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the heel expanding member;

Figure 8 is a front elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the stretcher comprises a body 10. This body has the laterally projecting arm 11 and at its upper end is formed with a head 12 which is bifurcated at 13. Pivotally mounted upon the arm or projection 11 is the lever 14. which at its middle is slotted to receive the arm 11 and which is pivoted to the arm by means ofthe pivot pin 15. The lower end of this lever is enlarged so as to form a bulbous extremity 16 adapted to fit within the heel of a sues. Preferably this bulbous 1927. Serial No. 206,271.

extremity is hollow, as otherwise the device would have too much weight.

The lower end of the body 10 is provided with a longitudinally elongated head 17 having laterally disposed ribs 18. The upper end of the lever 14 is provided with a pivot member 19 and having screw-threaded engagement with this pivot member is the ad justing screw 20. The inner end of this screw has swiveled engagement with a pivot pin 21 which extends through the upper end of the head 12. By this means the lever may be shifted so as to carry the bulbous extremity rearward or forward and thus contract or expand the device longitudinally.

Also mounted within the head 12 and extending across the bifurcation 13 thereof is a pivot pin 22 and through this pivot pin passes the adjusting screw 23 having a handle 24 at its upper end. The lower end of this adjusting screw is reduced in diameter, and loosely mounted upon this reduced portion is a plate 25 which is longitudinally slotted, as at 26. The reduced portion of the screw passes through a slot 27 in this plate 26 and carries a head 28.

Coacting with the head 17 and the plate 25 is the foot portion of the shoe stretcher which is formed in two sections 29 and 30. The section 29 is formed upon its exterior face to conform to the sole and instep of the shoe and at" its rear end this section is formed with a rearward prolongation 31 having longitudinally extending grooves 32 adapted to receive the ribs 18 and have sliding engagement therewith. The section 30 is pivoted to the section 29, as at 33, and its outer face is formed to conform to the inner face of the upper of the shoe. This section also has the rearwardly extending prolongation 34. which is formed with the longitudi nally extending grooves 35. The plate 25 is adapted to fit and slide within these grooves 35. Preferably the rear end of the extension 31 is provided with a pivoted latch 36 which can be turned over the end of the head 17 so as to prevent any longitudinal shifting of the foot pieces.

The operation of this device will be obvi one from what has gone before. The sectional foot piece is first contracted so as to pass into the shoe and the heel memberis shoe; when the parts are in i' a lhlflllj the heel member is first caused to move rearward by the screw and then the section 30 is raised with relation to the section 29 by means of the screw 28. This action is permitted by reason of the plate being loosely mounted upon the end of the screw and at the same time having sliding engagement with the grooves 35. Preferably the device will be made of aluminum or some other relatively light metal. By this means the shoes may be expanded and brought back into shape or stretched.

I claim 2- A shoe stretcher of the character described including a body having a longitudinally slot-ted head at its upper end, the lower end of the body being provided with a head formed with lateral ribs and the. body having a rearwardly extending arm, a hollow expanding lever pivoted upon said arm, a screw having screw-threaded and pivotal engagement with the upper end of the lever and having pivotal and rotative engagement with the upper end of the body, a foot piece formed in two sections pivotally engaged with each other at their forward ends, the lower section at its rear end being longitudinally slotted to embrace the head on the lower end of the body and the inner walls of the slots being formed with grooves to receive the ribs, the rear end of the upper sec tion being longitudinally slotted to receive the body and the inner faces of theslots be ing formed with grooves, a plate having sliding engagement in said grooves, a pivot pin extending across the bifurcated head at the upper end of the body, and a screw having rotative engagement with said pivot pin and at its lower end having rotative and rocking engagement with said plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afl'iX my signature. 7

JACOB DUDENHOFEN. 

